iPhone 12 Apple is now one of the most popular phones by technology enthusiasts and users of smartphones, both by our editorial staff. If you’re thinking about a transition from the iPhone 11 to the base model of the iPhone 12 (or one of the other three models available), you may be wondering: what exactly is the difference between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 11?
Is it worth investing in an iPhone 12 right now? If you don’t have either smartphone, the iPhone 11 now has a super advantageous price that you could take advantage of, and the price difference between the two iPhones could greatly influence your final choice. (You can still find good deals on the iPhone 12s too.)
Remember to read the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Mini, and iPhone 12 Pro Max reviews.
Here’s everything you need to know about the differences between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 11.
The best iPhone you can buy
The iPhone 12 (and its higher-end iPhone 12 Pro counterpart) received one of our highest ratings ever. It features a powerful and fast A14 Bionic processor, dual rear cameras, 5G, and a MagSafe function that connects to other mobile accessories magnetically.
iPhone 11
Still a great phone for the price. The iPhone 11 is a great phone for the price, which has recently dropped and is tempting many. The iPhone 11 has an A13 processor and a great camera setup. It also survived to drop and water tests.
Screen size and design
There are four iPhone 12 models: iPhone 12 Mini (5.4-inch), iPhone 12 and 12 Pro (6.1-inch), and iPhone 12 Pro Max (6.7-inch). In comparison, there are only three iPhone 11 devices: iPhone 11 (6.1-inch), iPhone 11 Pro (5.8-inch), and iPhone 11 Pro Max (6.5-inch). Basically, the iPhone 12 and the base iPhone 11 are the same sizes.
However, the iPhone 12 weighs less than the 11.
There are some fundamental differences, however, when it comes to the design of these two smartphones. Both are IP68 rated for water resistance, have no headphone jack, and have wireless charging capabilities. But the iPhone 12 also has an OLED display (compared to the iPhone 11’s LCD), a magnetic holder that works with the new MagSafe chargers and accessories, and a more durable ceramic-reinforced screen. The 12 also has a completely flat design along the edges, with no embossed buttons, as the iPhone 11 has.
The iPhone 12 is available in five colors: deep blue, mint green, red, white, and black. The iPhone 11 is available in six colors: black, white, purple, green, yellow, and red.
Screen refresh rate
Although there was speculation that the iPhone 12 Pro’s display could have a 120Hz refresh rate and a ProMotion display (like the iPad Pro), this ended up being just a rumor. Both the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 12 update at 60 frames per second or 60Hz. Most phones are the same. But some, like the Galaxy S20 and OnePlus 8 Pro, refresh to 120Hz. The higher the refresh rate, the faster and smoother a phone feels when scrolling through apps and websites.
Cameras
As is typically the case with new iPhones, the iPhone 12 has upgraded camera features over the iPhone 11, especially the iPhone 12 Pro models. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini largely resemble the design of the iPhone. iPhone 11 camera, with normal, ultrawide, and selfie cameras. But they also offer night mode photos that now also work on ultrawide and selfie cameras and an improved HDR mode for challenging scenes with bright and dark elements.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max get major photographic improvements, including a larger image sensor and a fourth telephoto camera for even more distant subjects. The iPhone 12 Pro has the same 2x telephoto zoom range as previous iPhones – a 52mm equivalent focal length – but the Pro Max extends up to 2.5x zoom or a 65mm equivalent lens.
Despite this, the iPhone 11’s camera has nothing to envy: it has a night mode and an ultra-wide-angle camera that can add extra detail in photos, along with a great camera.
The addition of 5G
All iPhone 12 models offer next-generation 5G cellular connectivity, as virtually all new Android phones already have on the way. This means smartphones can tap into the high-speed wireless network on the go, which may seem slightly less exciting during the pandemic, as we spend more time at home, but it will still future-proof your device for the rise of 5G.
The iPhone 11 does not offer 5G connectivity, although many people still believe it does.
Battery life and processing speed
The iPhone 11 includes Apple’s A13 Bionic processor, while the iPhone 12 includes Apple’s A14 Bionic processor, which offers faster speeds that improve the camera and browsing experience. While it’s hard to see the increased speed on the A13 chip, it’s also meant to future-proof your phone so that it can handle later versions of iOS.
Although Apple does not disclose its smartphones’ battery capacity, the iPhone 12’s battery has been tested to last more than 17 hours. The iPhone 11 lasts about 14 hours.
Price
The base model of the iPhone 11 from 2019 cost around €900, which is a little cheaper than the iPhone XR of 2018. With the addition of the iPhone 12, the price of the iPhone 11 has dropped to €790.
The iPhone 12 Mini costs €890; the iPhone 12 costs $799, the iPhone 12 Pro costs €950, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max costs approximately €1200.
